Laoptop goes hot and slow and then crashes after 45 mins

Zascar

My mate has a Dell Inspiron 1510 laptop, just over a year old. It has vista and its very slow, he basically said usually after 45 minutes or so it heats up and then starts crawling and will eventually die. I just thought it was software so I formatted it and put on Windows 7 thinking a clean install would fix any issues. However, its kinda still the same. Sometimes it works fine but other times after an hours use it crawls and then becomes unresponsive.

I'm guessing its an actual hardware issue. Can anyone guess what it might be and what I should do to fix it? Are there any online/software tests I can do to see if there is a hardware issue?

Where is a good place in (south) Dublin to leave it in to get fixed?
Thanks

Overheal

Check the dust situation. 9 times outta 10.

the other time outta 10: Whats the GFX card?

What happens is the computer uses the fan to keep it cool until its forced to underclock the CPU until its forced to kill power. thats why it slows down before crashing altogether.

Zascar

Thanks I was thinking that might be a possibility, however laptop is pretty clean and no signs of dust, but you never know what's inside - I don't really want to go taking it apart though...

hiscan

Having a similar problem myself,where would you go to get a laptop cleaned?

Overheal

taking it apart is easy enough usually. and youd be surprised the amount of dust that pockets in and around the heatsink.

Podman

Similar thread here (http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055778707)

Zascar wrote: »

Are there any online/software tests I can do to see if there is a hardware issue?

It sounds like the overheating is the problem, the fan should be kept clear of obstruction.
You could try putting something under the laptop's "feet" to elevate the computer up off the table and allow more air underneath to the fan.
It works for me.

Zascar

Is sitting on a marble countertop, lots of room under it, its actually not that hot but went very slow. I'm letting it cool down and will try again now.

If my mate does want to just drop it in somewhere to get them to look at it, where would be a good place to do this?

ED E

Zascar wrote: »

My mate has a Dell Inspiron 1510 laptop, just over a year old. It has vista and its very slow, he basically said usually after 45 minutes or so it heats up and then starts crawling and will eventually die. I just thought it was software so I formatted it and put on Windows 7 thinking a clean install would fix any issues. However, its kinda still the same. Sometimes it works fine but other times after an hours use it crawls and then becomes unresponsive.

I'm guessing its an actual hardware issue. Can anyone guess what it might be and what I should do to fix it? Are there any online/software tests I can do to see if there is a hardware issue?

Where is a good place in (south) Dublin to leave it in to get fixed?
Thanks

Hey Zascar,

I've fixed two Inspiron 15XXs for this, and the damage it caused(one had windows files crippled by it overheating at a bad time). The amount of crap on the inside of one was amazing, though it looked very well kept externally.

Its very easy to open them up to remove the dust, just means taking out f@ckloads of little screws. Cant find any 1510 specific video guides but if you look at ones for 1525s and 1501s you'll get the idea of what to do. Start with the battery, then take out the disk drives(really easy). Then use a small flat screwdriver to pop the panel above the keyboard. 3 screws and that will pull out towards the screen, watch out for the ribbon connecting it to the mobo. After that you need to remove all the base screws and pop the casing apart. Its holds itself together without the screws so get a couple of real small screrwdrivers and pop it off all the way around.

Hope you can follow all that:)

ED E

Zascar wrote: »

Is sitting on a marble countertop, lots of room under it, its actually not that hot but went very slow. I'm letting it cool down and will try again now.

If my mate does want to just drop it in somewhere to get them to look at it, where would be a good place to do this?

I've heard good things about MicroPro on Nutgrove Avenue(Beside the chipper:p)